Nikola Jokic remains at the top of ESPN’s NBA Rank heading into the 2026-27 season, but the gap between the Denver Nuggets star and the two players immediately behind him is almost impossible to separate.
Jokic, Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander were separated by just three voting points, with all three receiving at least one first-place vote from ESPN’s seven-member panel.
The ranking is based on projected contributions during the 2026-27 regular season, taking into account both the quality and quantity of each player’s expected impact.
10. Donovan Mitchell
Cleveland Cavaliers | Guard | Age: 30
Mitchell moves into the top 10 after helping Cleveland reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in his career.
A seven-time All-Star, he has finished among the top seven in MVP voting three times over the past four seasons and remains the Cavaliers’ primary offensive creator.
His partnership with James Harden gives Cleveland a backcourt featuring two players with multiple All-NBA selections.
The major question is whether Mitchell can produce at the highest level when the stakes are greatest. He averaged 26 points per game in last season’s playoffs, below his 30-point average across his previous six postseason runs.
Signature stat: Mitchell is one of eight players to average at least 20 points per game in each of the past nine seasons.
Fantasy projection: 26.8 PTS, 5.7 AST, 4.8 REB, 1.6 STL
9. Jayson Tatum
Boston Celtics | Forward | Age: 28
Tatum returns to the rankings after missing last season’s eligibility because of an Achilles injury suffered in May 2025.
He made an unexpectedly productive comeback, playing 16 regular-season games and six playoff games. He missed Boston’s Game 7 loss to Philadelphia because of left knee stiffness but will have had another six months to recover before the new season begins.
Tatum faces an even greater responsibility after Boston traded Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia.
Before the Achilles injury, Tatum had earned first-team All-NBA honours for four consecutive seasons. Whether he can return to that level will be one of the defining questions surrounding Boston.
Signature stat: Tatum is one of three players to average at least 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists over the past two seasons, alongside Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Fantasy projection: 26.7 PTS, 8.6 REB, 5.8 AST, 1.1 STL
8. Cade Cunningham
Detroit Pistons | Guard | Age: 24
Cunningham climbs into the top 10 after a breakthrough 2025-26 campaign in which he earned first-team All-NBA honours and helped Detroit record its first 60-win season in two decades.
The 2021 No. 1 overall pick has developed into an elite playmaker capable of controlling the pace of games and exploiting defensive matchups.
His biggest concern remains turnovers. Cunningham averaged 5.6 turnovers per game during the 2026 playoffs, the highest average ever recorded by a player during a postseason run of at least 10 games.
Detroit has improved its shooting options, but the Pistons could still need another high-level creator to take pressure off their franchise guard.
Signature stat: Cunningham became the first Piston to score at least 1,500 points in consecutive seasons since Jerry Stackhouse did it three straight times from 1999-00 through 2001-02.
Fantasy projection: 24.6 PTS, 9.8 AST, 5.6 REB, 1.4 STL
7. Anthony Edwards
Minnesota Timberwolves | Guard | Age: 25
Edwards averaged a career-high 28.8 points per game last season and again shot 40% from three-point range on high volume.
He also had his most efficient season overall, although appearing in only 61 games kept him out of the All-NBA teams.
The next step is expanding his playmaking. Edwards has continued to improve his decision-making from pick-and-roll situations, but his assist rate actually fell to its lowest level since his rookie season last year.
Minnesota’s decision to acquire LaMelo Ball could reduce Edwards’ responsibilities as a primary ball handler, but it does not necessarily prevent him from continuing to develop as a facilitator.
Signature stat: Edwards’ 10,854 career points are the third-most in NBA history before a player turns 25, behind only LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
Fantasy projection: 30.3 PTS, 5.2 REB, 4.0 AST, 1.3 STL
6. Jalen Brunson
New York Knicks | Guard | Age: 30
Brunson enters the new season as the reigning NBA champion and Finals MVP after leading the Knicks to their first championship in more than 50 years.
He also earned his third consecutive All-NBA selection and was named Eastern Conference finals MVP.
The challenge now is maintaining that level while defending the title in a much deeper Eastern Conference.
Brunson averaged 11.2 points in the fourth quarter during the 2026 Finals, the highest figure ever recorded by a guard in an NBA Finals series.
The Knicks will need him to balance his own scoring responsibilities with keeping the team’s other stars involved throughout a long regular season and playoff campaign.
Signature stat: Brunson’s 11.2 fourth-quarter points per game in the 2026 Finals ranked second all-time in a Finals series, behind only Shaquille O’Neal’s figures from 1995 and 2000.
Fantasy projection: 26.9 PTS, 6.9 AST, 3.3 REB, 0.9 STL
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Miami Heat | Forward | Age: 31
Antetokounmpo remains among the league’s elite after another season of MVP-level production, although injuries limited him to 36 games in his final season with Milwaukee.
Now with Miami, he enters a new chapter with the Heat and will need to demonstrate that he can stay healthy while maintaining his previous level of performance.
His ability to score, rebound, create for teammates and defend at an elite level gives Miami a dramatically different offensive and defensive foundation.
The Heat have also added Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr., giving Antetokounmpo additional shooting around him.
Signature stat: Antetokounmpo left Milwaukee as one of only four players to lead an active franchise in points, rebounds and assists, joining LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Michael Jordan.
Fantasy projection: 32.1 PTS, 11.4 REB, 6.3 AST, 1.1 STL
4. Luka Doncic
Los Angeles Lakers | Guard | Age: 27
Doncic enters his prime after winning his second scoring title in three seasons, averaging 33.48 points per game.
The Lakers also reshaped their roster around him, adding Walker Kessler and retaining Austin Reaves.
But postseason success remains the major question. Doncic has recorded only one playoff victory during his first two postseasons with the Lakers.
He missed both rounds of last season’s playoffs because of a hamstring injury, while his previous deep playoff runs with Dallas are becoming increasingly distant.
With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama now emerging as major forces in the Western Conference, Doncic faces another opportunity to establish himself as the centrepiece of a championship contender.
Signature stat: Doncic is one of only three players to record at least 15,000 points, 4,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists during their first eight NBA seasons, alongside LeBron James and Oscar Robertson.
Fantasy projection: 33.0 PTS, 8.9 AST, 8.5 REB, 1.6 STL
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder | Guard | Age: 28
The reigning back-to-back MVP enters the season looking to return Oklahoma City to the NBA Finals after the Thunder were eliminated by San Antonio in the Western Conference finals.
His partnership with Jalen Williams remains particularly important. Oklahoma City outscored opponents by 15.3 points per 100 possessions when the two shared the floor last season.
Gilgeous-Alexander is also pursuing a rare shooting achievement: becoming only the third guard to shoot above 50% from the field for five consecutive seasons, after Magic Johnson and Maurice Cheeks.
A third straight MVP would put him in territory not reached since Larry Bird won the award three years in a row from 1984 through 1986.
Signature stat: Gilgeous-Alexander can join Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players to average at least 30 points while shooting 50% or better for five consecutive seasons.
Fantasy projection: 31.3 PTS, 6.4 AST, 4.9 REB, 1.7 STL
2. Victor Wembanyama
San Antonio Spurs | Center | Age: 22
Wembanyama’s rapid rise continues. The 22-year-old enters his fourth NBA season after earning Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-NBA honours.
He also became the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year since the award was introduced in 1983.
Wembanyama improved his scoring efficiency last season by reducing his reliance on three-point attempts and attacking the paint more often. He also led the league in blocks and defensive win shares.
The biggest question now is how he responds to San Antonio’s defeat in the NBA Finals.
The Spurs struggled to protect early leads during the series, and Wembanyama appeared to tire as the games progressed. Improving his endurance and decision-making in late-game situations will be important as San Antonio attempts another championship run.
Signature stat: Wembanyama became the NBA’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year last season.
Fantasy projection: 26.3 PTS, 12.2 REB, 3.5 AST, 3.5 BLK
1. Nikola Jokic
Denver Nuggets | Center | Age: 31
Jokic retains the No. 1 position for the third consecutive year, although the vote was exceptionally close.
Just three points separated Jokic, Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander, with all three receiving at least one first-place vote from ESPN’s seven-person panel.
Jokic averaged a triple-double for the second consecutive season in 2025-26, joining Russell Westbrook as the only players to accomplish the feat more than once.
He also finished second in MVP voting, extending his run of either winning the award or finishing runner-up to six consecutive seasons.
The main question heading into 2026-27 concerns his three-point shooting. Jokic was shooting 44% from deep before suffering a bone bruise in his left knee, but his percentage fell to 32% after his return.
The problem continued in the playoffs, when he shot just 7-for-36 from three-point range against Minnesota.
With the Western Conference featuring elite rim protectors such as Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert and Walker Kessler, Jokic’s ability to stretch the floor could become particularly important for Denver.
Signature stat: Jokic became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both rebounds and assists per game in the same season.
Fantasy projection: 28.3 PTS, 12.7 REB, 10.1 AST, 1.6 STL
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